1. On what issues do the Democratic and Republican party Platforms have the greatest difference?

2. What does Father Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life, say voters must consider when voting?

3. Father Pavone said, “The same questions you ask about the candidates’ positions on issues have to be asked of the party's positions [on issues]. The party platform expresses its philosophy, and its policy preferences.”   When a party comes to power, what decisions does he say will be made that directly reflect their party’s philosophy?

4. How does a party Platform influence a candidate who might not completely agree with every issue the Platform supports, according to Father Pavone?

5. What signal does the party Platform give in the case of the President? Be specific.

6. What shouldn’t voters do if they want to do their moral duty, according to Father Pavone?

7. Read the comparison chart above. For each issue, with which party’s position do you agree?

8. Has reviewing each party’s positions on the issues helped you to decide how you would vote in the presidential or state and local elections? Explain your answer.

CHALLENGE:
Go to the “Party Platforms” section of StudentNewsDaily’s “2016 Presidential Election” page.
Complete Activity #1 on the Preambles to each party’s Platform
OR
Complete Activity #2 worksheet AND answer #3.

NOTE: The Catholic Church has 69.5 million members in the U.S. - it is the largest religious body in the United States, comprising 22% of the population as of 2015.